How to prepare for your first job

The job market is quite different from the academic world. It’s totally normal to be apprehensive about your first job. Remember that your employer is aware that you’re just starting out and that you’ll be facing new challenges. All the tools and resources necessary should be in place to allow you to navigate this new environment.

Your first day at work is generally a busy one, as you’ll be:

• Meeting your team and colleagues
• Receiving training on the different work tools
• Reading various documents
• Visiting the office to get familiar with your work space as well as the location of the bathroom, copy machine, coffee machine, cafeteria, and more.

While your know-how is important, the secret to your success lies in your interpersonal skills. Show that you’re willing to learn and keep a positive attitude.

The first week is often draining, as you’re:

• Staying focused for several hours
• Absorbing and internalizing an overwhelming amount of information
• Adapting to new ways of working and to a new environment

You might find yourself exhausted. That’s normal. You may also be having second thoughts about your skills, your decisions, and even your career choice! Put those fears to rest: with time, you’ll become more confident and will think back to these trying times with a smile.

You’ve met your colleagues, you’re up to speed on certain projects and your brain is filled to the brim with new information. It’s only the beginning!

The time has come for your first team meeting. Go easy on yourself. After a few minutes, you may have a hard time following the discussions and understanding the matter at hand.

Remain calm and give yourself time to internalize the subject matter. Just remember: your colleagues were once in your shoes. No one expects you to understand everything from the get-go.

After some time, you hand in that first project to which you devoted much time and effort. While you did your very best, the feedback you’ll receive will probably include many comments and modifications.

Don’t fret! You’re still learning and will continue to learn for a few years. You don’t become an expert in your field overnight. Theory and practice are two very different things. While working as a consultant can be rewarding, it also requires much persistence.

Seize all opportunities for growth and keep smiling: you’re sure to improve by leaps and bounds!

Taking a professional exam while working is more challenging than when you were a full-time student. You have more responsibilities, which, in turn, means you have less free time to study.

Unequivocally, the key word to remember here is DISCIPLINE. Plan your time accordingly and take full advantage of the study days provided. Stick to your schedule as much as possible, but be sure to set aside time to relax. That’s key to a balanced lifestyle!